October 28, 2005M28, Part II, Chapter 2, Section E

Section E. Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications

Overview
In This Section
/ This section contains the topics listed in the table below.
Topic / Topic Name / See Page
1 / Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications Available to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Divisions / 2-E-2
2 / Obtaining Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications / 2-E-4
1. Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications Available to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Divisions
Change Date
/ October 28, 2005
a. Types of Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications
/ The table below describes the materials that must be made available to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) personnel in
  • regional offices (ROs), and
  • other offices where VR&E personnel are stationed, such as
outbased centers
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics, and
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs).
Note: Most materials are available on the internet. VR&E Officers should provide training and assistance to staff members using internet-based resources.
Type of Material / Description
A comprehensive occupational information reference file /
  • Organized upon the arrangement of titles and codes in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) (Fourth Edition), using the first two- or three-digit code of this classification system
  • contains appropriate materials relating to national, regional, and local occupational conditions
  • reviewed at least annually, and
  • updated with regular accessions and removal of obsolete materials.

A professional library of publications / Provides
  • current information on the philosophy, theory, techniques, and developments in
counseling, and
rehabilitation and related areas, and
  • source material for staff development.

Continued on next page

1. Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications Available to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Divisions, Continued

a. Types of Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications(continued)
Type of Material / Description
A comprehensive educational information file / Consists of
  • educational directories and guides
  • financial aid publications, and
  • school and college catalogs, especially from schools located in the area serviced by the RO.

2. Obtaining Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications
Introduction
/ This topic contains information on obtaining occupational and educational information and professional publications, including
  • the policy on selecting materials, and
  • how to order materials.

Change Date
/ October 28, 2005
a. Policy on Selecting Materials
/ VR&E Officers must regularly and systematically select and procure publications that are required to meet
  • local needs for counseling and rehabilitation training services, and
  • the professional information needs of the VR&E staff.
Note: Base the selection of materials on its
  • usefulness
  • authoritativeness
  • appropriateness
  • comprehensiveness, and
  • currency.

b. Ordering Occupational and Educational Materials
/ The table below describes how to order various types of occupational and educational materials.
Note: Appropriate budget allocations must be made in a timely manner to allow for adequate additions throughout the fiscal year.
For … / Order by …
free materials, particularly occupational materials / submitting a request to all reliable sources.

Continued on next page

2. Obtaining Occupational and Educational Information and Professional Publications, Continued

b. Ordering Occupational and Educational Materials(continued)
For … / Order by …
materials that are not free, such as
  • professional journals
  • books, and
  • occupational information
/
  • submitting VA Form 2237, Request, Turn in, and Receipt for Property or Services to the Supply Officer, or
  • using a purchase card if the vendor accepts purchase cards.
Reference: For more information on purchase cards, see M28.IV.vi.3.B.3. (TBD)

2-E-1